Rokkaku Kites

I found these miniature Rokkaku kites at an estate sale a couple years ago. I'd never heard of them before, but I liked the designs.

Rokkaku kites date back to the 1600's in the Japanese city of Sanjo where they were used in kite fighting festivals.  They typically feature images from Japanese folklore. There's a temple in Kyoto named Rokkakudo Temple whose roof resembles the kites.

Rokkaku kite fighting is still a popular sport, although the kite shapes have changed from their original 6-sided design.